The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-01

Of blanket and the time honored camp
frolic OF tossing In 1t was insugurated.
The tossers we're not at oil par
ticular as 10 whom they tossed.
Anybody that looked like a good sub
ject was suddenly grabbed and pitched
headlopg into the blanket. Most Of
the soldiers who were tossed were old
hands at the business, and enjoyed the
sensation as much 80 the blanket
holders did. Occasionally one would
show that he had lever been there
before, and would vainly clutch the
air as he turned somersault after som.
ersault. Hall grown c0lored boys
tossed the best, and they caused the
most amusement. With eyes showing
nearly double the usual amount q
white, they looked as il they thought
each toss would end life. Every time
they struck the blanket they would
vainly endeavor to clutch it, only to
q nd themselves once more shooting
through the air, destined 10 land In
another shape.
The Memphis Merchants' Zouavea
have been very pleasantly situated al
the southwest corner OF the camp,
and have been eOjoying their tent life
fully as much as anyone else. They
have all, without exception, been in
good health. They and the VicksburR
Southrons cauEed somewhat OF q
sensation In refusing to march behind
colored troops in the parade OF
Wednesday, aud have been subject to
@ good deal of comment, favorable and
otherwise, in consequence. In the
procession they were by csreleesness
or oversight placed Immediately be,
hind the Washington Cadets, a col:
ored organization. They refused to do
IL and dropped out Of place. They fol-
lowed the line OF route about half q
mile behind the tail end of the main
body OF troops. The President and
Mri. Cleveland remained in the re-
viewing stand until they had passed.
The following explanation 10 given to
ono Of the oca) papers by Capt.
Searle, oil Southfons, who was the one
to first drop out OF line: "The pro-
cession had moved SONS distance with
our company in line, and bad made q
halt before l no ed that We were
paced behind company OF colored
troops. My company at once pro-
tested. conveye the protest to Mi.
Sha field, the officer commanding my
battalion, and through him to Maj or
General Anger. Three times our re-
quest TO have the colored troops
placed somewhere else In the process
sion was sent to Gen. Anger, without
any response. After the third failure
M6j. Shaflield said he could do nc
more for us, and added something
which l understood to mean that we
could do Just what we pleased abou
it. Before deciding to drop out o.
line / asked the Washington Light
Infantry, who were Immediately In
front oil the negroes, to change placet
with the negroes and thus remove the
latter one degree farther from us
But the colonel Of the Washington
Light Infantry would not oblige us
Then | called the captains of all thu
Southern companies, and told then
hat We meant to drop out OF the pro
cession sooner than be associated will
the negro In dress parade. Several o
them promised to follow us, but tn,
only company that joined us was tn,
Memphis Z)uaves. A very short TIM
apparently sufliced to change the mind
OF the other Southern companie
who remained in the procession. BE
fore we entered the drill We had tn
full permission OF the Dill Commit
tee to take any such action in regar'
to colored troops. We were particula
to ask information on that point, an,
we we're assured that we would not b
thrown in contact with the negroes a
drills or dress parades or in any wa
whatever. 1t was on the strength G
that guarantee from the Drill Commit
tee that we protes ed against bein
placed ON a social equality with tn
colored race. The Washington Po
(DemoCratic) has this to say about tn
pffair:
Tho Pest has not tho slightest doubt tbs
the Vioksburg and Memphis companies ie
into an absurd mistake in Withdrawing irol
the parade yesterday because colofed con
panies were marching in the same line: u
taking such action the mill mentione
have only succeeded in maklrg themsoly,
objects OF playful comment which cannot
agreeable. Men are no more ION an equa
ity" because they are marching together
procession than because they are on u
same railroad train, or in the same stree
sidewalk, or In the same town. No o9nugl
ity can make persons, equal who a.
unequal-either physically, intellectual!
morally or socially snyy6oa We are are I" s0 muf
tho impEdent intrusion Of info
! ioB-or of .superiors either, for thu
8 matter. But here there was no intrinsic
I about II. The colored companies stage
= | where they were placed and marched tole
ably well and conducted themselves mo,
= cstly, and their position made Thorn no mo-
1 equal to the white soldier than II mao
them equal TO the white merchants beio
Y whose doors they passed. Indeed, no "
4 OF tho white men in limo were eQual,excepll
: their statue before the law. Equalit, depe n
on intrinsic qualities, mo- on Sxtrtnsic eond
d tionl. The Mississippi. valley gentlem'
7 would do we'll to reconsider.
3 On the following day the Memph
1 ZouRves entered the competitive dri
9 and made a splendid showing. The
!, mar euvers were beautifully execute
I aud they were received with immenI
= applause by the large assemblsl
] which witnessed their performanc
= This made the two other Zouav
o companies whom they are competlr
4 with feel very anxious for the prlz
aud on Thursday they protested III
o drill Of the Memphis boys on accoul
e Of their action in dropping out OF Il
;. procession two days previously, an
y today the Memphis Merchant Iouav'
b were called en- for an explanation
Il What will be the result OF course car
=, not be told yet, but II the Memph
o bows have won a pr'zs thew will get